May is a month of celebration and appreciation at PDC, especially for the graduating Class of 2023.

It is a time to celebrate a year of student success and show appreciation to our dedicated faculty, staff and supportive community.

Our sincere congratulations to our Class of 2023 and their families. PDC will add more than 300 new graduates this year to our list of growing alumni. Many of our graduates will stay local after graduation and contribute to the growth of our regional economy - like many of our other 5,000 campus alumni. 

In addition to the university Commencement ceremonies taking place in late May, we will have a special ceremony at PDC for our graduates. Graduates will also have the opportunity to participate in affinity group graduate ceremonies, including Latinx, nursing, teaching credential candidates, LGBTQA and others.

This year, we have expanded student research activities at PDC where undergraduate students can now participate in faculty-led research projects. For example, the PDC Faculty Scholarly Research and Creative Activities Committee and the Offices of Student Research and Community Engagement held the PDC ShowCASE Day, which celebrated student life in the areas of creative arts, scholarship and engagement at CSUSB. Kinesiology and nursing students have already presented their research posters at conferences and campus events.

A new PDC University Honors cohort was created thanks to the work of David Marshall, director of the CSUSB University Honors program. The program gives 45 PDC honor students a rich experience by working with highly-motivated students as they transition from high school into collegiate studies, and provides a community of support throughout their time at CSUSB.

Our Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at PDC continues to grow and connect with community members as well as PDC students. OLLI started a “Sages and Seekers” program for members to provide mentorship for our undergraduate students.

Led by our Career Center colleagues, PDC hosted our first in-person career event since the pandemic. The Career Showcase brought Coachella Valley employers to campus to meet with PDC students to discuss employment and internship opportunities.

Our hospitality management students participated in a study abroad experience in Italy, which provided them with an opportunity to immerse themselves in Italian culture, learn about the country’s hospitality management and travel and transportation systems, and develop their intercultural communications skills. These types of opportunities enhance student learning and elevate their college experience. 

Our nursing students and faculty are continuing to provide much-needed free healthcare services in the community through the CSUSB Nursing Street Medicine Program.

Thanks to the community effort to help secure the $79 million state budget allocation, the design of our new Student Center Building is well under way. We completed the conceptual design, have moved into schematic design, and will submit the design to the CSU Board of Trustees for approval in June. 

I am so proud of the work we do at PDC. Our success is the result of our strong partnerships with university leadership, collaboration among colleagues and support from the community. PDC will continue to grow and transform lives for generations to come.

Jake Zhu, Ph.D.

Dean, CSUSB Palm Desert Campus

CSUSB College of Arts and Letters lecturer wins coveted 2022-23 Outstanding Lecturer Award

In a surprise announcement, communication studies lecturer Lacey Kendall was named the winner of Cal State San Bernardino’s 2022-23 Outstanding Lecturer Award for her exceptional instruction, capacity to engage her students and the extremely positive feedback she receives from those she has taught.

Congratulations Professor Kendall for this well-deserved award!

CSUSB Palm Desert Campus hospitality management students return from Italy with memories to last a lifetime

A group of hospitality management students from CSUSB recently returned from a once-in-a-lifetime study abroad trip to Italy where they immersed themselves in Italian culture, visited iconic landmarks and participated in a variety of fun and educational activities.

Coachella Valley woman dedicated to education and supporting domestic violence victims to receive honorary doctorate at CSUSB 2023 spring commencement

Dr. Mary M. Heckmann, (BA English ’95) will receive an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters at CSUSB's spring Commencement on May 20.

Dr. Heckmann is a philanthropist and occasional writing instructor at CSUSB's Palm Desert Campus. A Coachella Valley resident for 40 years, she is one of the area’s most prolific leaders in education.

College Assistance Migrant Program at CSUSB Palm Desert Campus is helping students succeed in college

In 2022, CSUSB and OneFuture Coachella Valley were awarded a College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) grant from the U.S. Dept. of Education - a five-year $2.3 million federal grant that focuses on helping students, who are migrant/seasonal farm workers or the children of migrant/seasonal farm workers, stay in school during their first year of college and continue into their second year of higher education.

CAMP staff at CSUSB work with community partners to grow the program and reach as many students as possible, and in its first year, the program at the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus has already made great strides in helping students in the Coachella Valley pursue a higher education.

ITS Tech Talks

The 7th annual ITS Tech Talks Conference, presented by CSU San Bernardino Information Technology Services (ITS), took place at the Palm Desert Campus.

The event, which also took place at the San Bernardino campus, showcased the work of academics, students, staff, administrators and industry partners as they discussed and shared their experiences in education, innovative pedagogies and research led XR projects to support diverse, equitable and inclusive teaching and learning spaces.

Communication Day

The Communication Day event at PDC invited students from the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus and College of the Desert to learn more about careers in the communications field as well as the many resources and services available for students at PDC.

A panel of successful PDC alumni shared their personal and professional journeys with students and answered questions on a variety of topics.

In addition to the alumni panelists, Liliana Rodriguez, Artistic Director at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, was a guest speaker at the event.

New Technology Support Center

We are proud to introduce the new Technology Support Center (TSC) at the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus!

The new TSC is a one-stop shop for support, information and consultation of all technology-related matters for faculty, staff and students, and provides assistance with email, Wi-Fi, free software and Coyote OneCards.

U.S. Paralympian speaks to kinesiology students

United States Paralympian Amy Burnett spoke to kinesiology students at PDC, and students also learned how to play wheelchair badminton.

Burnett, who competed in the Pan American Games in 2019 and will again in 2023, is currently ranked 14th in the world in WH1 (Wheelchair 1) and 5th in the Pan Am region. She is also the first female wheelchair athlete in the world to become a certified coach with the Badminton World Federation.

Kinesiology students offer health assessments to community members

Students in the Kinesiology 4400: Exercise Testing and Prescription class at PDC were matched with OLLI at CSUSB Palm Desert Campus members to offer them the unique opportunity of providing free health assessment and prescription services tailored to their specific needs. This experiential learning opportunity for our PDC KINE students also provides an opportunity to give back and to connect intergenerationally with our local community members.

PDC Engagement Expo

The PDC Engagement Expo allowed students to interact with various campus departments, student clubs/organizations and non-profits. It was a great opportunity for students to build new connections and networks, both within the campus community and with outside partners.

Student Employee Appreciation Day

In gratitude for the exceptional work and substantial contributions they provide to the university, CSUSB held its annual Student Employee Appreciation Day at PDC.

Congratulations to Amanda Reigle for being recognized as the 2022-23 Outstanding Student Employee of the Year!

PDC Grad Reception

PDC held its annual Grad Reception to celebrate this year's graduating class. Congratulations to the Class of 2023!